Economic and Environmental Role of Wetlands

Interview with Nick Davidson, Ramsar Convention’s Deputy Secretary General at CBD, COP11. The key role that rapidly diminishing wetlands play in supporting human life and biodiversity needs to be recognized and integrated into decision-making as a vital component of the transition to a resource-efficient, sustainable world economy, according to a new TEEB report released today.

UN Top Environment Chief in First Visit to Iraq Says Implementation of the Agreement will Bolster Environmental Recovery and Peace-building

Baghdad, 26 January 2014 - In an effort to set in motion robust action to restore Iraq's fast deteriorating environment, the Government of Iraq signed, Sunday, a landmark agreement with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that aims to speed up recovery and support national development goals.

Iraq's environment has suffered severe decline, exacerbated by decades of war and growing pressures on natural resources.

According to a new government study - backed by UN and World Bank data- 5 to 8 per cent of Iraq's GDP is lost annually to environmental degradation.

At the same time, 39 per cent of Iraq's agricultural land suffered a reduction in cropland between 2007 and 2009.

Meanwhile food insecurity remains on the rise.

The report warns that the quality and quantity of the country's water has been impacted by upstream damming, pollution, climate change and inefficient usage.

The amount of water available per person per year decreased from 5,900 cubic metres to 2,400 cubic metres between 1977 and 2009. Decreasing water supplies were exacerbated by drought from 2005 and 2009.

"Achieving sustainable development is by no means a light undertaking, especially after decades of wars, sanctions and environmental degradation. Rebuilding Iraq's environmental infrastructure underpins the country's recovery and peace-building efforts." said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, on his first-ever visit to Iraq, Sunday.

"The commitment of the Government to achieve environmental sustainability is clearly articulated in the vision, goals and objectives of the National Development Plan, which places the Green Economy at the heart of development and economic policies," he added.

The new five-year Strategic Cooperation Agreement with UNEP will strengthen efforts to overcome many of Iraq's environmental challenges.

Iraqi Minister of Environment Eng. Sargon Lazar Slewa, said, " The Government of Iraq is committed to moving ahead with plans to restore the environment as part of our National Development Plan. The visit by Mr. Steiner and the signing of the cooperation agreement will expedite and further strengthen this process. The well-being, security and livelihoods of Iraqi's are dependent on our success."

The signing of the agreement took place at a special event hosted by the Minister of Environment to welcome Mr. Steiner to Baghdad.

It was attended by key figures including cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, members of the diplomatic community and international organizations.

The Government of Iraq also announced 2014 as a national Year of Environment and declared 28 January as an annual Environment Day.

Cooperation between the Government of Iraq and UNEP dates back to 2003, immediately after the establishment of the Ministry of Environment.

Since then, UNEP has worked with the Iraqi Government on multiple projects, including: rapid post-conflict environmental assessments; environmental clean-up of highly contaminated sites; and the restoration of the Mesopotamian Marshlands.

Notes to Editors:

The report, entitled Iraq State of Environment and Outlook is available in Arabic only. It was prepared by the Government of Iraq with support from UNDP and UNEP.

Facts and Figures from the report:

Around 31 per cent of Iraq's surface is desert. At the same time, 39 per cent of the country's surface is estimated to have been affected by desertification, with an additional 54 per cent under threat.

As a result of declining soil moisture and lack of vegetative cover, recent years have witnessed an increase in the frequency of vast dust and sand storms, often originating in the western parts of Iraq.

Population growth is adding mounting pressure to existing food, water and energy resources.

By 2030, the population is expected to grow to almost 50 million people, exacerbating these pressures even further.

Sustainable access to safe water and sanitation remain a challenge: 83 per cent of Iraq's wastewater is left untreated, contributing to the pollution of Iraq's waterways and general environment;

Years of conflict and violence resulted in chemical pollution and unexploded ordnances, which is affecting the safety and lives of an estimated 1.6 million Iraqis.